Proteas determined to seal whitewash

JP Duminy says the Proteas are determined to preserve their unbeaten record in the final ODI against Bangladesh at Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday.

The Proteas lead the three-match series 2-0 after a convincing 104-run win in Paarl on Wednesday, and have set their sights on achieving a 3-0 series clean-sweep.

Duminy believes the squad remains motivated towards achieving the goals set prior to the series, despite the one-sided nature of the matches so far. He has been impressed by the high standards that have been set and met throughout the series, and expects another high-quality performance to cap off the series.

“Something that we spoke about before the series started was that we wanted to walk away with 3-0, that is still our main focus,” Duminy said in East London on Saturday.

“Yes we have had two amazing games but it doesn’t take away the main goal, which is to put in a solid performance to finish off the series.

“Over the last two games I’ve been happy with the way that we have done our work,” he said. “ The way we have been disciplined in all departments. We have put a lot of focus on what we are trying to achieve and fortunately for us we have blown them away in all departments. It doesn’t take away what is going to happen tomorrow, I still believe that Bangladesh will come out and try to prove a point and try to get back into this tour.”

David Miller will undergo a late fitness test on Sunday morning to determine his availability for the match, while the rested Hashim Amla is the only confirmed change to the starting XI.

“Hashim has been officially rested so there is a spot up for grabs,” Duminy said. “ In terms of the other selections, I’m not quite sure who is going to come in or who is going to be rested. It opens up a few opportunities for guys to get chances so we will have to wait and see what the selectors do.”

The Proteas have won 13 out of 17 matches played at the low-scoring venue, which has an average first innings score of 242 for day matches. The West Indies were bundled out for 122 in the last ODI to be played at the ground in 2015, with Hashim Amla (61) and Faf du Plessis (51) top-scoring in the nine-wicket win.

“The pitch looks like a decent wicket for East London,” Duminy explained. “ It’s generally a wicket that is low and slow, so for us in terms of our game plans it’s about making sure we are equipped and that our game plans are in order to face what the conditions have for us.”